Multi-chambered container and associated method

Abstract

A multi-chambered container for selectively storing and dispensing a plurality of items may include predetermined quantities of first and second items and a container having a divided cavity formed therein. The container may further have a spout formed at a top end thereof and in fluid communication with the cavity. Additionally, the container may have first and second mutually exclusive passageways extending from the cavity and terminating at the spout. A mechanism may be included for selectively dispensing one of the first and second items from the spout. Such a mechanism may channel one item along a corresponding passageway while prohibiting another item from being dispensed. The mechanism may be operated by rotating a cam and semicircular disc to position an opening on a simultaneously rotated wheel over the desired passageway. The mechanism may rotate the opening 180 degrees for every 360 degree rotation of the cam.

What is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A multi-chambered container for selectively storing and dispensing a plurality of items, said multi-chambered container comprising:
 a predetermined quantity of a first item; 
 a predetermined quantity of a second item; 
 a container having a cavity formed therein, said cavity being adapted to store and isolate said first and second items therein, said container further having a spout formed at a top end thereof and being in fluid communication with said cavity, said container further having first and second mutually exclusive passageways extending from said cavity and terminating at said spout; and 
 means for selectively dispensing one of said first and second items from said spout by channeling said one item along a corresponding one of said first and second passageways while prohibiting another one of said first and second items from being dispensed out from said spout; 
 wherein said selectively dispensing means comprises: 
 a divider statically nested inside said cavity and configured in such a manner that said cavity is bifurcated into a plurality of isolated compartments, each of said isolated compartments being adapted to separately store one of said first and second items; 
 wherein said divider remains at a fixed and stationary position while said selectively dispensing means is toggled between said open and closed positions; 
 wherein said selectively dispensing means further comprises: 
 a cam shaft having a bottom end seated within said spout and further having a top end exposed above said spout, said top end of said cam shaft further being centrally registered above said spout for receiving a user input; 
 a bottom wheel rotatably connected to said spout, said bottom wheel being configured in such a manner that said bottom wheel is intermittently rotated as said cam shaft is continuously rotated; and 
 wherein said first and second passageways are intermittently biased between open and closed positions as said bottom wheel becomes intermittently offset and aligned with said first and second passageways such that said first and second items are intermittently permitted and intermittently prohibited from egressing said spout respectively. 
 
     
     
       2. The multi-chambered container of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second passageways remain spaced apart along an entire longitudinal length of said cavity. 
     
     
       3. The multi-chambered container of  claim 1 , wherein said selectively dispensing means further comprises:
 a top disc statically mated to said cam shaft and situated above said bottom wheel, said top disc being eccentrically juxtaposed above said bottom wheel such that said top disc rotates along an eccentric curvilinear path defined inwardly from an outer perimeter of said bottom wheel; and 
 first and second stop members directly affixed to a top surface of said bottom wheel, said first and second stop members being intermittently engaged with said top disc as said top disc continuously rotates along said eccentric curvilinear path to thereby intermittently rotate said bottom wheel between the open and closed positions respectively. 
 
     
     
       4. The multi-chambered container comprising  3 , wherein said first and second stop members are oppositely positioned on said bottom wheel and remain approximately 180 degrees apart as said top disc and said bottom wheel are rotated. 
     
     
       5. The multi-chambered container comprising  3 , wherein said cam shaft and said top disc are continuously rotated in sync along a first rotational direction as said bottom wheel is intermittently rotated along said first rotational direction. 
     
     
       6. The multi-chambered container comprising  3 , wherein said top disc comprises: a shoulder protruding outwardly from an outer perimeter of said top disc, said top disc being intermittently engaged with said first and second stop members and thereby causing said bottom wheel to intermittently rotate along a semi-spherical path extending approximately 180 degrees as said cam shaft and said top disc rotate 360 degrees. 
     
     
       7. The multi-chambered container comprising  6 , wherein said first and second stop members intermittently travel along said eccentric curvilinear path such that said first and second stop members become intermittently engaged and disengaged from said shoulder upon reaching a beginning point and an end point of said semi-spherical path respectively;
 wherein said beginning and ending points are alternately aligned with said open top ends of said first and second passageways respectively during each complete revolution of said cam shaft. 
 
     
     
       8. A multi-chambered container for selectively storing and dispensing a plurality of items, said multi-chambered container comprising:
 a predetermined quantity of a first item; 
 a predetermined quantity of a second item; 
 a container having a cavity formed therein, said cavity being adapted to store and isolate said first and second items therein, said container further having a spout formed at a top end thereof and being in fluid communication with said cavity, said container further having first and second mutually exclusive passageways extending from said cavity and terminating at said spout; and 
 means for selectively dispensing one of said first and second items from said spout by channeling said one item along a corresponding one of said first and second passageways while prohibiting another one of said first and second items from being dispensed out from said spout; 
 wherein said selectively dispensing means comprises 
 a divider statically nested inside said cavity and configured in such a manner that said cavity is bifurcated into a plurality of isolated compartments, each of said isolated compartments being adapted to separately store one of said first and second items; 
 wherein said divider remains at a fixed and stationary position while said selectively dispensing means is toggled between said open and closed positions; 
 wherein said selectively dispensing means further comprises 
 a cam shaft having a bottom end seated within said spout and further having a top end exposed above said spout, said top end of said cam shaft further being centrally registered above said spout for receiving a user input; and 
 a bottom wheel rotatably connected to said spout, said bottom wheel being configured in such a manner that said bottom wheel is intermittently rotated as said cam shaft is continuously rotated; 
 wherein said first and second passageways are intermittently biased between open and closed positions as said bottom wheel becomes intermittently offset and aligned with said first and second passageways such that said first and second items are intermittently permitted and intermittently prohibited from egressing said spout respectively. 
 
     
     
       9. The multi-chambered container of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second passageways remain spaced apart along an entire longitudinal length of said cavity. 
     
     
       10. The multi-chambered container of  claim 8 , wherein said selectively dispensing means further comprises:
 a top disc statically mated to said cam shaft and situated above said bottom wheel, said top disc being eccentrically juxtaposed above said bottom wheel such that said top disc rotates along an eccentric curvilinear path defined inwardly from an outer perimeter of said bottom wheel; and 
 first and second stop members directly affixed to a top surface of said bottom wheel, said first and second stop members being intermittently engaged with said top disc as said top disc continuously rotates along said eccentric curvilinear path to thereby intermittently rotate said bottom wheel between the open and closed positions respectively. 
 
     
     
       11. The multi-chambered container comprising  10 , wherein said first and second stop members are oppositely positioned on said bottom wheel and remain approximately 180 degrees apart as said top disc and said bottom wheel are rotated. 
     
     
       12. The multi-chambered container comprising  10 , wherein said cam shaft and said top disc are continuously rotated in sync along a first rotational direction as said bottom wheel is intermittently rotated along said first rotational direction. 
     
     
       13. The multi-chambered container comprising  10 , wherein said top disc comprises: a shoulder protruding outwardly from an outer perimeter of said top disc, said top disc being intermittently engaged with said first and second stop members and thereby causing said bottom wheel to intermittently rotate along a semi-spherical path extending approximately 180 degrees as said cam shaft and said top disc rotate 360 degrees. 
     
     
       14. The multi-chambered container comprising  13 , wherein said first and second stop members intermittently travel along said eccentric curvilinear path such that said first and second stop members become intermittently engaged and disengaged from said shoulder upon reaching a beginning point and an end point of said semi-spherical path respectively;
 wherein said beginning and ending points are alternately aligned with said open top ends of said first and second passageways respectively during each complete revolution of said cam shaft.